Remote diagnosis and central fault evaluation method of decentralized electric devices, and decentralized electronic device

ABSTRACT

A method for remote diagnosis and central error evaluation of decentralized electronic devices ( 1 ) with an integrated telecommunications device ( 3 ) includes the steps of storing information about malfunctions of a decentralized electronic device ( 1 ) in a diagnosis memory ( 6 ) of the electronic device ( 1 ); making a telecommunications connection of the electronic device ( 1 ) with a central error evaluation station ( 7 ), controlled by the user of the electronic device ( 1 ); transmitting error data from the diagnosis memory ( 6 ) to the central error evaluation station ( 7 ); and evaluating the error data in the central error evaluation station ( 7 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for remote diagnosis and central errorevaluation of decentralized electrical devices, with an integratedtelecommunications device. It also relates to a decentralized electronicdevice with an integrated telecommunications device.

As examples of decentralized electrical devices with an integratedtelecommunications device, so-called radiophones re known, which are acombination of a car radio and a GSM telephone in the same housing.Interlinked driver information systems, in the form of a combinednavigation system and mobile phone, for use in motor vehicles are alsoknown.

Such systems are quite complex and have numerous functionalitiescooperating with one another. The problem in the development andoperation of such combined electrical devices is that because of theircomplexity, they cannot be tested completely in the laboratory; instead,new technical problems can arise when they are used in the field.

Usually, the errors that occur become known to the manufacturer onlyfrom complaints and returns of the devices involved, and at themanufacturer, these errors can be statistically evaluated to only alimited extent. The statistical basis for error evaluations is thereforequite small, and the resultant provisions to be taken are limited.Furthermore, the reaction time for eliminating errors andcorrespondingly rebuilding all the electrical devices that are in thefield is too long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object was therefore to create an improved method for remotediagnosis and central error evaluation of decentralized electricaldevices with an integrated telecommunications device as well as acorrespondingly improved decentralized electrical device with anintegrated telecommunications device.

This object is attained by the method, by means of:

-   -   a) storing information about malfunctions of a decentralized        electronic device in a diagnosis memory of the electronic        device;    -   b) making a telecommunications connection of the electronic        device with a central error evaluation station, controlled by        the user of the electronic device;    -   c) transmitting error data from the diagnosis memory to the        central error evaluation station;    -   d) evaluating the error data in the central error evaluation        station.

Thus according to the invention, the information stored in a diagnosismemory of the electrical device is transmitted by the integratedtelecommunications device to a central error evaluation station, wherethe information is evaluated. This has the advantage that in principle aremote diagnosis can be performed for every electronic device freely inuse in the field, and the information route from the user of theelectronic device to the central error evaluation station isstandardized and shortened considerably. The information about theerrors can then be analyzed quickly by the development unit connected tothe error evaluation station and eliminated.

By statistical evaluation of the error information, accumulations oferrors can be detected early. Furthermore, the costs of product testingand repair can be reduced.

In the method, preferably one or more diagnosis programs stored in thediagnosis memory are executed, and only the error data from thediagnosis memory that have been correspondingly selected by thediagnosis program executed are transmitted from the diagnosis memory. Bythe use of diagnosis programs, the events of diagnosis can bestandardized and made easily usable for the user.

The results of diagnosis are preferably transmitted back to theelectronic device from the central error evaluation station. In thisway, the costs for repair can be reduced, and an immediate reaction to arequest for diagnosis can be made. This leads to an increase in thequality of the product and to increased customer satisfaction.

The results of diagnosis can be displayed in the electronic device in aknown way. Moreover, maintenance of the electronic device can beperformed by a diagnosis program as a function of the results ofdiagnosis.

A decentralized electronic device with an integrated telecommunicationsdevice thus, according to the invention, has a diagnosis memory forstoring information about malfunctions of the electronic device. Forperforming the method described above, this device is embodied suchthat, under the control of the user of the electronic device, atelecommunications connection is made with the central error evaluationstation, and error data from the diagnosis memory are transmitted to thecentral error evaluation station for evaluation. Because of theuser-controlled making of the telecommunications connection, the userhas control over the remote diagnosis, so that access to the electronicdevice against the wishes of the user is not possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in further detail below in terms of anexemplary embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment for an electronicdevice 1, in the form of a so-called radiophone, that is, a car radiowith an integrated mobile radio part in the same housing.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The electronic device 1 has various system components, such as an AM/FMtuner 2, a telecommunications device 3 in the form of a mobile radiopart, a controller 4, and optionally other system components 5.According to the invention, there is an integrated diagnosis memory 6,so that in the event of malfunctions, information accordingly can bestored as error data in the diagnosis memory 6.

The electronic device 1 is embodied such that under user control via themobile radio part 3, a telecommunications connection is made with acentral error evaluation station 7, and error data from the diagnosismemory 6 are transmitted to the central error evaluation station 7. Theerror data are then evaluated in the central error evaluation station 7,and results of diagnosis are optionally transmitted back to theelectronic. This information can either be displayed in the electronicdevice 1 and/or used for maintenance of the electronic device 1.

The making of the connection and the transmission of error data from thediagnosis memory 6 are preferably made to only one or more predefinedtelephone numbers that cannot be changed by the user. This makes themethod for remote diagnosis simple and easy to perform and relativelysecure against abuse.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a card reader 8 is also provided, forexecuting special diagnosis programs that are stored on a diagnosis card9. The diagnosis card 9 serves to make the system secure; not until thediagnosis card 9 is inserted into the card reader 8 are the functionsfor making a telecommunications connection with the central errorevaluation station 7 and for executing various diagnosis programs storedin the card activated. Diagnosis programs are provided that enable aselection of regions of the diagnosis memory 6, or in other words aselection of the error data to be transmitted and evaluated. A storagein memory and the display of results of diagnosis are also possible onlyby means of an inserted diagnosis card 9. In the same way, maintenanceof the electronic device 1 as a function of the results of diagnosis canbe done only in conjunction with the diagnosis card 9 and a diagnosisprogram stored in the diagnosis cards 9.

The diagnosis card 9 is preferably made anonymous, so that particularlywhen error data are transmitted to the central error evaluation station7, a user's identity will not be transmitted too. This also assures thatfor the statistical error evaluation, performed by storing the errordata in memory in the central error evaluation station 7, no personaldata will be acquired in the process.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the inventive method for remote diagnosisand central error evaluation of decentralized electronic devices 1, withan integrated telecommunications device 3. In step S1 storing ofinformation (error data) about malfunction is performed. Execution ofone or more diagnosis program to select error data is carded out in nextstep S2. In step S3 telecommunication connection to central station ismade. Then, in step S4 error data are transmitted. Results of evaluationof error data from a central station are received in step S5. Theresults are then displayed in step S6. Finally, maintenance is providedon the basis of results, in step S7.

1. A method for remote diagnosis and central error evaluation ofdecentralized electronic devices with integrated telecommunicationsdevices, the method comprising the steps at: storing information aboutmalfunction of a decentralized electronic device as error data in adiagnosis memory of the electronic device; executing one or morediagnosis programs stored in the diagnosis memory to select error datafrom the diagnosis memory; making a telecommunications connection of theelectronic device with a central error evaluation station controlled bya user of the electronic device; transmitting error data from thediagnosis memory to the central error evaluation station; and receivingresults of diagnosis from the central error evaluation station by theelectronic device after evaluation of the error data in the centralevaluation station.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1; and furthercomprising displaying the results of diagnosis in the electronic device.3. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising providingmaintenance of the electronic device by the diagnosis program as afunction of the results of the diagnosis.
 4. A method as defined inclaim 1; and further comprising storing the diagnosis programs on aseparate diagnosis card, so that the method can not be performed untilthe diagnosis current is read by a card reader connected trough anelectronic device.
 5. A decentralized electronic device, comprisingintegrated telecommunications devices; a diagnosis memory for storinginformation about malfunctions of the electronic device as error data; adiagnosis card, such that diagnosis programs are stored in saiddiagnosis memory or in said diagnosis card for selecting error data fromthe diagnosis memory; a central error evaluation station to which theselected error data are transmitted, the electronic device being formedfor making a telecommunications connection of the electronic device withsaid central error evaluation station controlled by a user of theelectronic device for transmitting the error data from the diagnosismemory to the central error evaluation station and for receiving resultsof diagnosis from the central evaluation station by the electronicdevice after evaluation of the error data In the central evaluationstation.
 6. A decentralized electronic device as defined in claim 5,wherein the electronic device is formed so that the diagnosis programsfor maintaining the electronic device are embodied as a function of theresults of diagnosis.
 7. A decentralized electronic device as defined inclaim 5, and further comprising a card reader for reading the error datafrom the diagnosis card.